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Hutchinson
Alligator Gold
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Submitted by
Mark Lasch
a Cross Country Rider
from Friendswood TX
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky Hill Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$12.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | Grips like a mad dog on a mail man | | Weaknesses: | Grips like a mad dog on a mail man | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Mosquito Gold, IRC Mythos K | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Super V 900, mostly XT level with some XTR & Race Face thrown in just for kicks | | Bottom Line: | I was able to climb better with the Allegator than my worn Mosquito rear tire...but the weight and drag were very noticible, to the point where you could feel the bike decellerating when not pedeling. I found myself to be more fatiqued mid way through the ride than I have been in months. That stunk! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jacques
a Weekend Warrior
from Beaumont
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | the next one | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Strengths: | Grip,grip and more grip, very sturdy tire | | Weaknesses: | rolling resistance, weight if you care about it | | Similar Products Used: | many | | Bike Setup: | steel stumpjumper frame, Z2 Bam fork. Does it matter ? | | Bottom Line: | Confidence inspiring tire.
No longer made by Hutchinson. The new spider is lighter nearly the same but ligther, better cornering and faster rolling. I don't know about the wear. Time will say. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from The Dalles, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Knebal springs/bottle prarie | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | These tires seem to stick to slick rock better than any other knobby, they are tough, shed mud well, and handle the deep late season dust well. Also they are rated for 80 psi, which reduces drag if you want to do something silly like ride your mountain bike on the road. | | Weaknesses: | How about a lighter weight version? When they start to slide sideways on a fast, dusty corner, the big lugs on the outer edge can catch abruptly... | | Similar Products Used: | Assorted. | | Bike Setup: | C.dale Raven 2 w/xtr, easton carbon, M959's, hope 4 piston... | | Bottom Line: | If you don't want to switch tires all the time for different seasons or trail conditions, these are the tires for you. They excel in rough, rooty, rocky or wet conditions. If you were going to race a fairly tame XC course, I could see wanting somthing lighter with less rolling resistance.
I see they are no longer listed on Hutchinson's web page, and I hope they haven't been discontinued... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from State College
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Rothrock State Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar.com | | Strengths: | Great traction
Look cool | | Weaknesses: | A little on the heavy side
Lots of rolling resistance | | Similar Products Used: | Kendas my bike came with | | Bike Setup: | Ibex Alpine 350, pretty much stock | | Bottom Line: | I got these tires to get me through the snow and ice on my way to class every day, and they came through in spades. I have no problem riding on snow, slush, mud, wet rock, or any other surface for that matter. The only thing they slip on is ice, but any non-studded tire will do that too. They're pretty heavy and slow on the road, but I don't even notice the weight when I'm on the trail.
Bonus: People checking out my bike as they walk by. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Orlando, Florida, US
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Chubb - St.Louis, MO | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Great for sand and marshy conditions, which is what Florida has a lot of. | | Weaknesses: | After three months my back tire developed two gashes. I put them threw a real workout though. | | Similar Products Used: | H. Pythons | | Bike Setup: | 01 Fuel 80, judy fork, | | Bottom Line: | If you need a lot of grip, and don't mind the excess weight, these tires are good. I've switched to pythons to try them out for a bit. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Savior
a Cross Country Rider
from Portugal
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Windmills | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Raposo | | Strengths: | good grip, hard to go flat, good for descendings, good looking, light weight. | | Weaknesses: | thin sidewalls, wears out easily on road, must have the correct pressure. | | Similar Products Used: | Wildgripper Hot S | | Bike Setup: | Grisley equipped with Shimano Deore, Rock Shox SID. | | Bottom Line: | Very good tires when not worn off, should be available in other colors (like red or blue). Only good for cross-country and trial maniacs, not very advisable for downhillers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clout
a Cross Country Rider
from Montréal
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | Extremely good grip. Actually looks like a Mtb tire (if that matters to you) | | Weaknesses: | Soft compound, so gets eaten by asphalt (not really a weakness but its worth to know). Could be lighter I suppose. | | Similar Products Used: | Explorer Pro (conti), Ritchey Z-max, WTB Velociraptor, Survival Pro (conti) | | Bike Setup: | Steel RM, Z-2, XTR/RaceFace. | | Bottom Line: | This tire grips like crazy. Wet roots, leaves, rock, you don't care. Just ride through and keep your ass on that saddle. I kept mine around 30-35 psi (size 1.85, weight 180). It seems that Hutchinson compound are sun-shy though. The tire's side kind of dryed up after summer and filled with small cracks, I wasn't careful and I let my bike under the sun quite a lot. so 4 bag of crap on fire for value (durability might be affected) but overall 5. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MountRealRider
a Cross Country Rider
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | The smoothest ride ever, very good on dry terrain, sheds liquid mud very good. | | Weaknesses: | fragile sidewalls, super heavy! , clay-type mud sticks a bit... slides a little on wet roots an leaves, not so good as a front tire in those conditions | | Similar Products Used: | All major brands of tires | | Bike Setup: | Bontrager Privateer, Cannondale F200Sl, Kona Stuff | | Bottom Line: | a pair of wire bead 1.80 gold: This tire feels like big felt boots, they mute everything, feel like you have added an half inch of suspension. If you do not race, and plan a long day on a dry rocky road, this is the feel good tire. I really love it in appropiate conditions. Even love the noise it makes. I will buy a 2.0 and use a pair on my Stuff in dry conditions. I got a slight cut in a sidewall before any other trace of use became visible. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DCS
a Cross Country Rider
from NY
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Traction, traction, traction. Rolling resistance is surprisingly low given aggressive tread. | | Weaknesses: | Bit heavy, cornering is a bit slow | | Similar Products Used: | Pythons, MOFO XC, Bontrager, Kenda, | | Bike Setup: | Titus Racer X | | Bottom Line: | Outstanding traction in all conditions and appears to be quite durable. Sheds mud well and can handle terrain that other tires cannot. You can clear hills that you never could before. My only criticism is that the tires have a very square, flat profile -- which probably aids the traction -- which makes the cornering a touch sluggish, although cornering traction remains excellent. I guess nothing is perfect in life or riding . . . . Purchased these babies at Jenson for $12 each -- great deal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CHUCK COOK
a
from NASHVILLE,TN.U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | LOCK-4.&HAMILTON CREEK | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | CAMBRIABIKE.COM | | Strengths: | IT HOOKS UP GREAT WHEN IT'S WET.ON ROCKS,RUTS,LOGS.IT ALSO HOLDS GREAT ON HARD PACK.THIS IS THE ALL AROUND TIRE. | | Weaknesses: | NONE AT ALL. | | Similar Products Used: | PYTHON GOLD,MITCHLIN HOT-S | | Bike Setup: | MARIN PINE-MT.XT ALL THE WAY,BONTRAGER RACE LIGHT STEM,PROFILE FLAT CARBON BARS,ROCK SHOX SID,SELLA ITALIA FLITE TI GEL SEAT,THOMSON SEAT POST,SHIMANO 959 PEDALS,AVID DISC BRAKES,AVID FLAK JACKET CABLES,SHIMANO M-575 DISC WHEELSET,HUTCHINSON GOLDS ON FRONT AND REAR. | | Bottom Line: | HUTCHINSON TIRES ARE THE BEST ON THE PLANET.I RUN THE MOSQUITO GOLD ON THE FRONT WHEN IT'S WET OR DRY.THEN I RUN THE PYTHON ON THE REAR WHEN IT IS VERY DRY OR ON HARD PACK.BUT THE ALLIGATOR IS THE BEST FOR WET AND SEMI-DRY COND.IT IS THE BEST TIRE WHEN YOU HAVE TO RACE IN THE MUD.IT SHEDS MUD VERY WELL.THE BOTTOM LINE IS.YOU NEED TO GO OUT AND GET YOU SOME OF THE GOLD GATOR.
I RATE THIS GATOR WITH 5 FLAMIN CHILI'S
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sprocketeer
a Cross Country Rider
from Narashino, Chiba, Japan (Native New Yorker)
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | I like it rough and dirty, baby!! | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Seo Cycle at LalaPort, Tokyo Bay shopping mall in Chiba-prefecture (Funabashi) | | Strengths: | Cuts through, grips, and sheds anything. This is the only TRUE all-terrain tire I've ever tried. I've used two sets in two years without any problems at all. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | These are my first kevlar/silicon based tires--and the first that can be pumped up to 80psi--so I can't really say I've used anything like these. | | Bike Setup: | No stock parts--Trek Cro-Moly, racing geometry frame, with racing level components--my own creation. | | Bottom Line: | Even if your bike is not a race worthy machine (and only 5% of all serious riders really need something like that), these tires will make a world of difference in how it performs. To criticize that they don't help you go faster is rediculous because I know of few other tires of this size which can be pumped up to 80psi.
I've ridden on paved flats at 55 kph on these tires and as far as I'm concerned there is no other mountain bike tire out there which can do the same. On my old tires I'd probably be chugging air at 35 kph. (If you're moving too slow it's probably because of the shocks.)
I've ridden these tires in and on everything from pavement to deep mud and even in the middle of typhoons (I actually like to ride in typhoons) with water up to the hubs. These tires don't slip--ever! If you're slipping on these tires, it's not the tires that are slipping, but the ground you're riding on.
Another thing: these tires are silicon based, which is why they shed absolutely anything and clean off so easy. When I come in from a ride, and look as if I've been rolling around in the dirt for hours, my tires still look like I bought them a week ago.
Once I was riding along when I heard a nasty sound coming from my wheels and stopped to check it out. A number of steel spikes had gone right through the tread of my tires and knocked against my frame, but didn't pierce through the actual tire itself. I was very impressed.
If you don't know much about tires, and don't know what kind to buy for the type of riding you do, or you do all kinds of riding, get these because they'll preform outstandingly anywhere you want to go.
Flaming chilis galore! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Reaper
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: December 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything dirt | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$12.00 | | Purchased At: | jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | Grips like a mother. | | Weaknesses: | Extreme traction. Don't expect these to be very fast tires. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Iguana, Manitou X-Vert, Thomson, Avid, Kore, Velomax... | | Bottom Line: | I'm impressed. Tried to ride up a very steep hill, but lost traction. When I dismounted I found that I couldn't even stand on it. That was the only time that day I broke traction, despite the fact the trails were buried in pine straw. The other end of the spectrum from slicks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan W
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR USA
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere in Oregon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$12.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA.com (yes, $12!) | | Strengths: | Incredible mud grip. Good tracking. BIG volume for great flotation and shock absorption. Decent weight and rolling restistance. | | Weaknesses: | Sidewalls seem thin. Tricky to put on due to flexible bead, but this is my first experience with Kevlar-belted tires. | | Similar Products Used: | Many different Specialized, IRC Blizzard, Continental Spike (no longer made - not the same as Panaracer Spike) | | Bike Setup: | 93 Fuji rigid 21sp MTB, all DX gruppo, Mavic rims & 13x30 cassette for mtn riding, Sun rims, 13x28 cassette & Specialized Nimbus Armadillos for commuting, Time ATAC pedals, Specialized BG Comfort saddle | | Bottom Line: | This is an awesome tire for wet Pacific NW conditions. Took it on a 12-mile ride in Forest Park yesterday (it's December) and threw it at the deepest, thickest, sloppiest mud covered with decayed leaves that you can imagine. Climbed all the way to the top of Firelane 3 and back down (except one short 30-yard pitch I just couldn't muscle up in my 24:30 low gear). Climbed stuff as steep as anything I've ever done, and in gooier conditions, and these never broke loose. They don't pack with mud AT ALL either. Tracked straight and clean through mudholes, 3" of decomposed leaves over sticky mud, and over one 6" log. Does not slip on wet branches like other tires, even at an angle. In tricky situations I never felt like I was losing control. Holds sidehills well. Confidence inspiring. Can't wait to try these babies in snow, especially after my experience with lousy IRC Blizzards (what good are studs if your tread pattern that doesn't grip in snow?). Also can't wait to take them to the desert in the spring and throw some rocks, sand and gumbo at them.
This thing is bigger than 2.0" advertised. Usually I can put on 2.3"s but these barely fit. I ride a rigid bike, and at 40 psi these are almost like suspension. Rocks and sticks up to a little over 1" are not even felt! Should also be more resistant to snakebites with the large air volume.
I've always run tires with lots of tread, so these aren't heavier or slower than anything else I've used ... I don't know what the other reviewers are talking about there. What are they running, slicks? Slicks are for the ROAD. If these are too slow, the casing says you can put 80 PSI (!!!) in them.
If you need a good tire for "extreme conditions" (mud, loamy soil, loose rocks, sticks, stones, broken bones) this is the one for you. Get 'em while they're still on sale at Jensonusa. If these are too fat get the 1.8s. You'd need some kind of mutant bike to run the 2.3s.
If you need a fast rolling tire for hardpack conditions maybe you're trail riding and not really mountain biking.
They'd be 5 habaneros for value even at the $30 regular price. 9.5 chilis for value at $12. Also 5 peppers overall. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jack
a Cross Country Rider
from kelso, wa
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | milton,(trail of tears) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | bymans, bikes | | Strengths: | So far everything, Superb northwest wet weather tire.Awsome tracking over wet leaves and roots, sheds mud quickly, very sure footed. | | Weaknesses: | None so far, I'm 6,4 @215, so I'm hopeing the sidewall probles does not happen,like stated in prior reviews. | | Similar Products Used: | wtb velosoraptors, panaracers (mud) | | Bike Setup: | 2001 klein adept, manitou black elite | | Bottom Line: | Great tire, would highly recomend to any one riding in our area, or any wet muddy conditions.I especially like the front control for wet root navigation,also noticed good handling in off camber slick areas. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Woodson
a Downhiller
from Frankfort, Kentucky
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Good traction, good cornering. | | Weaknesses: | Weight and rolling resistance. | | Similar Products Used: | Lots. | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Mt. Tam | | Bottom Line: | I bought these tires months ago strictly to use in the mud. I never even put them on the bike until this week and now I'm sorry I waited so long. After four rides on them, I think they may be my favorite tires ever. Great traction for climbing, and really grippy in the corners. When the traction starts to give out in a fast turn they give you plenty of warning, too.
And they do perform well in the mud. With the wide spaces between knobs, they don't pack up with mud the way a lot of tires do. They seem to do pretty well on wet rocks and roots, too. I think these are tires. (I haven't been using them long enough to address the durability issues that some other reviewers noted.) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike eckley
a Weekend Warrior
from Avon Lake, Ohio,USA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Holiday Valley | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$23.00 | | Purchased At: | internet | | Strengths: | looks,durability,construction,price | | Weaknesses: | should have more sidewall colors choice options, Hutchison would most likely sell alot more of these tires. | | Similar Products Used: | Geax Blade< specialized | | Bike Setup: | 2000 M2 Stumpy with lots of candy. | | Bottom Line: | I don't understand the weight thing, I didn't put a gram count on them but on my Mavic 517's these baby's feel light!
Over the last month we've had rain soaked roots,rocks,mud, also 90plus dry heat hardpack, they have performed flawlessly thru everything, twice this weekend I got onto a slow wet root technical situation, they spun half a crank rotation, then the knobs hooked in and I kept climbing w/o looking back. Awesome feeling. shed mud quickly. brake on loose shale well. great all around tire. look damn good on my yellow stumpjumper also | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tom jones
a Cross Country Rider
from saint peter
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | mount kato | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | traction, traction, and more traction. quality rubber | | Weaknesses: | heavy, rolling resistance, its worth it | | Similar Products Used: | name it. | | Bike Setup: | fisher mt tam (genesis hard-tail) | | Bottom Line: | I am so impressed with this tire I thought I should come give it a good review. I am only running it up front, I have a python on back. Replacing my fromt raptor with this tire has given me so much more confidence in the curvy rolling singltrack here that has some mud, sand and gravel sections scattered over what is generally hardpack. I can dive into sandy corners with confidence and speed. I am the type that likes a beefier tire up front and I'm still not sure if I'll keep the python on back, its really not that great, especially now compared to the alligator. the extra weight and rolling resistance seems rediculous to even mention. If thats your main concern then hit the trail on your road bike and see how far you get. By the way I am 175lbs and have 33lbs front and rear. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Maurizio DiPietro
a Racer
from Herndon, VA
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | nashbar.com | | Strengths: | good all weather tire | | Weaknesses: | Sidewall very weak!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar LE | | Bottom Line: | This would be a very good tire if you could use more then one time. I was in Atlanta for a Hi-tech adventure race...One mile into the bike I ripped the sidewall. This set us back about 1hour. I still am using one on the back with no problems. The tire works very well in all weather conditions...I wish they would make the sidewall stronger. I love the yellow color :-) however, I don’t recommend this tire. It’s to expensive and heavy for the weak sidewall. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ricksom
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Nashbar | | Strengths: | Great mud and wet conditions tire.
Works in pudding mud of many inches, or greasy off camber clay. | | Weaknesses: | High rolling resistance on hard surfaces. | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchison Python
Bontrager Jones
Team Control/Master | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Hammer Hardtail | | Bottom Line: | This is the only real mud and wet conditions tire I have found. This one really works, and works well. Here near Toronto, we have slippery clay and sticky loam mud with all this rain so far. This tire has no problems with any of this stuff, including wet roots and rocks. Used it on a group ride in the rain, and in a mud infested race. Consistently was one of the few that cleaned the short, steep single-track hills, even when walking it was impossible. Rarely fell down as well.
Will definitely keep this tire in my special conditions reserve, when the deep forest single-track becomes a wet slippery mud fest. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leroy
a Cross Country Rider
from Greenville, SC
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any downhill @ pisgah | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | Great tires for digging in mud and soft dirt. Mud does not usually build up, very good at self cleaning. When you climb a good hill you can feel that back tire just grabbing the ground and pushing you on up. They look awesome on any bike. | | Weaknesses: | Front tire can be a little unpredictable in turns on very hard ground. With this much tread you loose a lot of speed, but its worth it. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB velociraptors, Kenda something? | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Jamis dakar comp. full suspension with a few extras. | | Bottom Line: | Great tire for climbing and just about anything. If you are looking for speed this is not the tire for you, but the ability to climb when you need it makes up for the loss in speed. Great looking tires. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J G
a Cross Country Rider
from Westchester
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Bottom Line: | I used these tires no more than 5 times on trails and the sidewall on both of the tires received about a one inch tear in each. I would never buy these tires again, gripping and cornering were pretty good but the sidewall is so flimsy they tore after less than 20 hours of use. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rug
a Cross Country Rider
from Zama, Japan
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Grips anywhere especially in mud. Doesn't pack up loose leaves and mud. Soft rubber good ride. | | Weaknesses: | little heavy at first. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB velociraptors | | Bike Setup: | Anchor hardtail mostly XT some XTR Manitou SXR fork. | | Bottom Line: | These are the best tires I have ever used. Great for where I live. It rains a lot. I like the soft ride, but it doesn't roll as fast as Panaracer Fire XC, but I think that the grip and the ride are a better deal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bob
a Weekend Warrior
from Shawnee, KS
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$23.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | great tread, sheds mud, digs in, doesn't slip, the yellow sidewalls make me feel like a kid again | | Weaknesses: | not on these | | Similar Products Used: | panaracer dart | | Bike Setup: | Giant ATX 870, Mammoth rims | | Bottom Line: | I bought the 2.0. These things are great for climbing, in dry dirt, slick rock, even slick rock after going through mud. You can go through thick mud, and it will be shed after a few seconds. I got these cheap from Pricepoint, because the price on the website was messed up for a little while, and pricepoint let me keep that price. I think these tires are best for riding through all different terrain conditions for those of us who can't have a seperate mtb for every occasion. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Fambrough
a Cross Country Rider
from Plano, Texas
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Erwin -- Best trail clost to home | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | RBM | | Strengths: | Like what the other riders have said, it's a good all-around tire. So far, I've been impressed with how well it performs in mud. It's sheds it a lot better than my Michelin WildGrippers. | | Weaknesses: | If you're used to 1.95 sized tires, I'd recommend the 1.85 over the 2.0. Not as fast as the Michelins in terms of rolling resistance, but then again, it's a more durable, rugged tire. Also, going with the smaller size will save you a little on weight if you're into counting grams. | | Similar Products Used: | Michelin WildGipper 1.95 [Had to purchase a new set of tires when a rock cut through the sidewall.] | | Bike Setup: | GT i-drive | | Bottom Line: | Good tire; haven't experienced any pinch flats like I did with the WildGrippers (which seemed to occur every other ride). Due to all the rain we've had, hadn't got a feel for how it performs on dry, hardpacked or loose dirt yet. However, I bet this summer will change that. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt w
a Weekend Warrior
from charlotte, nc
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | beech springs | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | supergo | | Strengths: | Killer looks, great tread for wet and muddy. | | Weaknesses: | So far, so good. | | Bottom Line: | The color and the reviews made me choose them. So far I have nothing to complain about. Ride a lot of mud and they seem to dig in well and shed it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Boy
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Gatos, CA
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | montivina | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | good on loose and great on mud | | Weaknesses: | getting grease on the yellow
HEAVY | | Similar Products Used: | nano raptors and fire xc | | Bike Setup: | good | | Bottom Line: | These tires look awsome
they grip good all the time even in hard packed but not as good
You should go out and buy these!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
lowey
a Cross Country Rider
from Notts,England
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Sherwood Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$32.00 | | Strengths: | Very good all round tyre. Excellent grip on wet and routie trails and soft conditions | | Weaknesses: | Very poor life expectancy. Side walls fail after about 3 months of evening and weekend use(About 90 miles a week). | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer fire pro, ONZA Dan & dave,Continentals | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh Titanium,X-lite,XTR,Cooks Brothers | | Bottom Line: | But very good all condition tyre, Offering excellent grip in the English soggy climate. Work very well on routie single track and soft mud. Anybody considering purchasing would not be disapointed with the performance but must take into account the life expectancy.
Would not consider buying again until tried out Nokian tires, in a lovely Ice blue color. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pepa
a Weekend Warrior
from Czech Republic, Europe
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Zdarske vrchy, Orlicke hory | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | color, I love yellow and black - looks cool
rubber | | Weaknesses: | maybe heavy
| | Similar Products Used: | WTB Velociraptor, Z-Max, Rubena Highlander, Ritch Mud Max | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Joshua X0 | | Bottom Line: | Very good tire for front. I like it in every condition. You must try it and see that it is great! If you're looking for an all terrain tire, you will not go wrong with Aligator Gold. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Hickory Creek, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky Hills, Bar-H, Cedar Hill, Tyler, Grapevine NS etc | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | Best all-around all-condition tire I've ever used. | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Similar Products Used: | to many to list | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR-Pro. XTR crankset, brakes & levers. | | Bottom Line: | These tires Rock for all conditions. They are great in loose dirt to sand to fist sized rocks. In dry to wet to muddy stuff. Over wet or dry rock, boulders, and roots. I've used a lot of different tires and with some tires being perfect for one type of terrain/condition but in other areas they fall way short. The Hutch Alligator Gold are just so excellent in all the above areas that I use them everwhere I ride now. Even hard pack they roll fine on. They corner, climb, soakup the bumps.
Run rear in recommended direction, but run front tire opposit of recommended direction. I'm 190lb tire pressure 38psi front and rear. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Ann Arbor, MI
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | remarkable traction in a wide variety of terrain, predictable, stable, mud shedding. | | Weaknesses: | HEAVY! my 1.85=720g!!! | | Similar Products Used: | most of them... | | Bike Setup: | heckler sl, full xtr, angryasian fork, super-x rear, alligator front. | | Bottom Line: | an excellent do-it-all, go anywhere tire. it tracked through the slimy-slick mud without a hiccup, cornered very well everywhere--even on hardpack, rolled smoothly, and never felt strange.
i have had many tires that excelled on one end of the spectrum, but failed miserably at the other end.
examples: the velociraptor. great in loose conditions, but the front felt unpredictable and scary on hardpack.
fire-xc: great dry/hardpack performance, but packed right up in MI mud.
admittedly, the gator leans toward the looser/more extreme end, but felt fine on hardpack. after years of riding semis, it is refreshing to know there is a truly all-around tire out there. i may put the 1.85 on the rear, and put a 2.0 on the front.
another interesting note: the rubber seems very soft, but the knobs are quite stiff. (i hate flexy knobs on hardpack.) i think the soft compound helped on both slick roots and hardpack.
if you can get over the weight, these would be great freeride/winter tires. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
FoolishHuman
a Weekend Warrior
from New Jersey USA
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Nice Fat Chunky tires! Oh and the yellow color is pretty cool too.
| | Weaknesses: | um...yellow might not be for everyone. I heard they are heavy but havent noticed. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer fire xc, specialized | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Jamis dakar expert | | Bottom Line: | these tires came with my bike and they look b*tchin'. hutchinson should make them in other colors as well. Getting past the color thing, this is an excellent all around tire. they find traction in just about any type of terrain i've encountered. They're nice and fat too, great for rocky east coast riding.
Some people complained about them in hardpack trails but i find them to be just fine. Others were complaining about their rolling resistance. Well these arent exactly road tires, and besides, I think they have a lower rolling resistance than my old panaracer fire xcs. and those tires have smaller knobs.
These are great tires, but you might have more specific demands for your tires so i suggest you try them all! go out and ride and have fun and stop whining about your tires. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan DaPhilosopherSlave
a Cross Country Rider
from Coquitlam, B.C.
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Eagle Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | ~Excellent in mud, west coast trails
~Tough Sidewall, no worry in tight corners
| | Weaknesses: | ~Not exactly designed 4 rear, very easy 2 wear out
~heavy
~2.0? if u wanna match up with a skinnier rear tire, panaracer xc pro 1.8 is the best choice | | Similar Products Used: | ~IRC yrtnuockcab, Noto XC
~Hutchinson Mosquito, Squale
~Nokian Gazzuts
~Panoracer XC Pro 1.8 | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale V800, LX/XT, 80mm Fatty D, Fox, 25lbs | | Bottom Line: | all of the Huchinson tires r designed 4 racing in ONE particular type of trail, they r BEST in one, but bad in most, dont expect 2 find any hut. tire which would b good in ALL SERFACES,,,
if u r a west coast BC XCrider, alligator is ya choice, its mid-range price is Can$50,,,4 cutting tight mud corners, this tire would b the best, but ABSOLUTELY not 4 hardpack! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joshua Boey
a Cross Country Rider
from Selangor, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | color scheme, tread design which eats well into anything,
| | Weaknesses: | weight, a wee little bit pricy (but good things come at a price!) | | Similar Products Used: | maxxis tyres, panaracer dart, michelin sprint | | Bike Setup: | American eagle HT, Bomber z4 flylight air y2k, XT,XTR,LX,
Coda risers. | | Bottom Line: | Big Fat Yellow monsters they are, I purchased a pair of em and im very satisfied with it! Good all-round design, considerably low rolling resistance, eats into mud,dust roads,fire trails, and loose gravel. Self-cleaning so it doesnt render itself useless in muddy rides. Color match Looks hell of a good on my blue and yellow Eagle. I say its a very good long term investment...SO IF U HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN YOUR PAIR OF RUBBER..GO OUT AN GET THOSE GATOR GOLDS!!!!!!(get ready to have a hole in your wallet) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Canton
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bluff Point | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great traction, real good brake power | | Weaknesses: | lots of roling resistence, and the treds are so big I have a hard time getting my tire on and off my bike | | Similar Products Used: | irc mythos xc | | Bike Setup: | velocity deep v weels with xt hubs | | Bottom Line: | Good tires, but they cost u speed cause of roling resistance, otherwise all around good tire, oh yea except fo the pesky brake problem of not being about to get the tire out | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Farmington, CT.
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Case Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | cool yellow stripe
can clear a lot more stuff in muddy conditions
doesn't trap mud between treads | | Weaknesses: | a bit on the heavy side
not great on fire roads because of weight | | Similar Products Used: | lots | | Bike Setup: | Amp B4 - XTR | | Bottom Line: | I have been riding these tires for the past couple of weeks, and they are excellent in wet and muddy conditions. The best I've ever used! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mohd Azmi Zainudin
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgetown,Penang,Malaysia
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | too many to mention | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | By far the best all weather/terrain tyre I've used, specially in muddy/adverse conditions. The dual compound has stood up pretty well over a variety of terrains. Cool colour too! | | Weaknesses: | In dry condition, loses out slightly to it's other sibling, the Phython Gold which is THE tyre to use but then the Python Gold isn't as good an all rounder as the Alligator Gold. Could be lighter? Colour may not appeal to some as it doesn't match many other bikes other than the Cannondale F3000(Blue/Yellow Graphics) & Specialized S-Works FSR XC(Yellow) but this would be nit picking. | | Similar Products Used: | Hutchinson Python Gold/Air Light/Cameleon,Specialized Dirt Control/Master Comp,Continental Navigator Pro/Cross Country,Panaracer Fire XC Pro,Tioga Factory XC,Ritchey WCS. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized S-Works FSR XC,XTR Gruppo,Sun O XC Rims/Chris King Hubs/DT Comp spokes,Thompson seat-post,Control Tech Team Issue Stem, Easton CT2 Monkey-lite Low-rise bar,Selle Italia Gel Seat. | | Bottom Line: | There are so many fat tyres out in the mtb market one would be spoilt for choice but the Hutchinson Alligator Gold would be the one for me as it suits the terrain & the weather here in Malaysia. Grips when you need it to & rolls when you tear down the single tracks! Other than the weight issue I there isn't much to complain on such a fine tyre. 4 chillies for now... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
russell bobrowski
a Cross-Country Rider
from thunder bay
Date Reviewed: June 10, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
the severed dick | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
awsome front tire cool couler scheme | | Weaknesses: |
abit too narrow could be better for a rear tread | | Similar Products Used: |
you name em | | Bike Setup: |
brodie | | Bottom Line: | the best front tire ever , conti xc on the rear is a excellent move | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JG
a Cross-Country Rider
from Grenoble
Date Reviewed: May 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Belledone misc. | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
Real good traction in gravels and mud.
Braking power higher than expected, quite strong. | | Weaknesses: |
None experienced so far | | Similar Products Used: |
ROC downhill fat tyres ( 2.15) | | Bike Setup: |
Marin Palissade Trail 1996; no shock; suspended seatpost; cantilever brakes (still...) | | Bottom Line: | I ride mainly singletracks, sometimes offtrack in wet woods, or mountain slopes. Field of use is a mountain range from 1000 to 7000-8000 ft elevation. I ride up and down. I used the Alligator Gold tyre in the rear and i have a Michelin WG L2 195 in front. Both are brand new. I experienced a healthy behavior downhill. Agressive turns on flat surface made of gravels were reliable. Soggy single tracks in the woods were a piece of cake downhill. Braking power was impressive. Bumps absorption at 3.0 bars was similar to my former 2.15 tyres. The tyre looks sturdy due to its two rubber architecture (so the two colors look like !). Its price to quality ratio looks better than Michelin's products . I would give it a five if it was not for a lack of on-going experience, particularly on the impact of wear on its behavior.
Please post comments re.: your own experience with this model; I hardly found one person knowledgeable about this recent Hutchinson series so far althoough it looks more and more popular in Competition circles so far in Europe.
I will post again after completing more rides later. | | Overall Rating: |
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